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Sohn: Hamilton County’s schools inch up; the ranking bar should, too

Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, speaks to fifth graders Samantha Johnson, Aida Bautista, Cate Barton and Shadi Gonzalez about the new additions to their library at East Ridge Elementary School. More than 14 percent of East Ridge Elementary students are English language learners, and their school is a feeder school to East Ridge Middle School, recognized as a "reward" school for student growth.
Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, speaks to fifth graders Samantha Johnson, Aida Bautista, Cate Barton and Shadi Gonzalez about the new additions to their library at East Ridge Elementary School. More than 14 percent of East Ridge Elementary students are English language learners, and their school is a feeder school to East Ridge Middle School, recognized as a "reward" school for student growth. Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, speaks to fifth graders Samantha Johnson, Aida Bautista, Cate Barton and Shadi Gonzalez about the new additions to their library at East Ridge Elementary School. More than 14 percent of East Ridge Elementary students are English language learners, and their school is a feeder school to East Ridge Middle School, recognized as a "reward" school for student growth.

By Pam Sohn 3 min read

A look at Hamilton County’s 44,444 students

› Asian: 2.6 percent› Black African American: 30.5 percent› Hispanic or Latino: 11.8 percent› Native American/Alaskan: 0.2 percent› White: 54.8 percent› English Language Learners: 6.3 percent› Considered economically disadvantaged: 37.3 percent› Students with disabilities: 12.8 percentSource: Tennessee Department of Education’s annual Report Card

State education officials have classified the Hamilton County school system as an “achieving” district.

That’s good and heartening news – until we realize what a low bar that label entails. And in several key measures we still lag behind state averages.

» Our high school graduation rate over five years has inched up one tenth of a percent from 84.5 in the 2012-2013 school year to 84.6 last year. (Our one-year improvement in the graduation rate was slightly better, rising eight-tenths of a percentage point.) The state’s overall graduation rate last year was 89.1 – a record high.

» Less than one third – or 31.5 percent – of elementary and middle school students in Hamilton County were at or above grade level in reading last year.